In this paper, we will focus on the retrofit of the ventilation system setup on the premise of reserving the original VAV system. Therefore, a combination of the existing VAV system and the dedicated outdoor air system (VAV-DOAS) is discussed. Here, the VAV system handles the indoor temperature and humidity without outdoor air supply, while the DOAS handles the indoor air quality with full outdoor air supply. The feasibility and economic analysis of this combined system are discussed by comparing it with the conventional VAV system operated in the multiple spaces equation-based strategy (MSE-V). The experimental results indicate that the presented VAV-DOAS can save 16% and 21% of energy consumption under winter and summer conditions in Dalian, respectively. Furthermore, this paper presents an economic evaluation method that can effectively evaluate the economy of a VAV-DOAS system retrofitted from the VAV system with different air conditioning loads and outdoor airflow demands. The economic analysis result shows that the retrofit system is economically feasible while the system is designed to serve for more than 12 years.

This review paper aims to present a comprehensive overview of the evaluation, simulation, and control of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in nuclear power plants (NPPs), specifically highlighting their importance in maintaining operational safety, thermal performance, and energy efficiency. The study’s authors summarize recent developments in HVAC technologies, such as passive cooling systems, data-driven energy management frameworks, and intelligent control strategies, to cope with the specific challenges of NPPs. Various passive cooling systems, including heat pipes, thermosyphons, and loop heat pipes, have proven themselves by their ability to remove residual heat from spent fuel pools and reactors power plants with high efficiency. Through experimental studies, they have shown their ability to eliminate operational vulnerability to accidents or guarantee any desired long-term cooling. Intelligent sensor networks allow a more data-driven approach to HVAC control, enabling online energy management frameworks and advanced intelligent control systems. These exhibit considerable promise for optimizing HVAC performance, decreasing energy consumption, and improving operational flexibility in multi-zone systems. Such capabilities are ideal for addressing the dynamic and safety-critical nature of NPPs. They are first enabled by the use of these technologies for real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and adaptive control. When applied with advanced HVAC control systems, passive cooling techniques provide an exciting route to improve safety and energy efficiency. An overview of the key findings is that robust thermal management solutions combined with intelligent control and intelligent adaptation are essential when addressing the rapidly evolving demands of nuclear energy systems. This work highlights the priorities in the next generation of nuclear power plants, which should actively pursue seamless integration of out-of-system technologies into existing NPP infrastructures, enabling scalable, cost-effective, and resilient solutions.